US5165968A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink composition having rapid dry time and high print quality for plain paper printing
Assignee: HP Inc
•
Filing: 1991-08-01
•
Granted: 1992-11-24
•
Expires: 2011-08-01
Abstract
Abstract If a small amount of alcohol (about 0.05 to 6 wt %) is added to water-based inks for thermal ink-jet printing, the resultant print has a rapid dry time and improved smear resistance. In addition, a high quality print is obtained, even on plain paper.
Inventors
- 👤 Loren E. Johnson
- 👤 Kenneth A. Norton
- 👤 Norman E. Pawlowski
- 👤 Margaret L. Wooding
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:04
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A thermal ink-jet ink composition suitable for thermal ink-jet printing comprising, by weight: (a) about 1 to 10% of at least one water-soluble dye; (b) about 0.05 to 6% of an alcohol corresponding to the formula ROH, wherein R is lower alkyl having from two to about six carbon atoms or benzyl; (c) about 75 to about 98% water; (d) at least about 1% and up to about 15% of at least one member selected from the group consisting of glycols, ketones, and glycol ethers, said glycol, ketone, or glycol ether having a surface tension from about 28.5 dynes/cm to 50 dynes/cm, a viscosity of less than about 35 centipoise, and a boiling point of at least about 150° C. and wherein said glycol has a surface tension to viscosity ratio from 1 to about 10.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A thermal ink-jet ink composition suitable for thermal ink-jet printing comprising, by weight: (a) about 1 to 10% of at least one water-soluble dye; (b) about 0.05 to 6% of an alcohol corresponding to the formula ROH, wherein R is lower alkyl having from two to about six carbon atoms or benzyl; (c) about 75 to about 98% water; (d) at least about 1% and up to about 15% of at least one member selected from the group consisting of glycols, ketones, and glycol ethers, said glycol, ketone, or glycol ether having a surface tension from about 28.5 dynes/cm to 50 dynes/cm, a viscosity of less than about 35 centipoise, and a boiling point of at least about 150° C. and wherein said glycol has a surface tension to viscosity ratio from 1 to about 10.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ink composition of claim 1 wherein said dye is a sulfonated or carboxylated anionic dye.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ink composition of claim 1 wherein said alcohol is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, tert-butanol, n-pentanol, benzyl alcohol, or a mixture thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ink composition of claim 1 wherein said alcohol is present in the range from about 1 to about 4%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ink composition of claim 1 wherein said glycol is diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ink composition of claim 1 wherein said ketone is γ-butyrolactone or 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-1,2-pentanone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ink composition of claim 1 wherein said glycol ether is diethylene glycol mono methyl ether.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ink composition of claim 1 wherein the concentration of glycol, ketone, and glycol ether combined does not exceed about 12%.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ink composition of claim 1 which contains at least 1% of at least one of said glycol, ketone, and glycol ether and at least about 94% water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ink composition of claim 1 wherein said glycol ether is present in the range from about 3 to less than about 10%.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ink composition of claim 10 wherein said glycol ether is present in the range from about 4 to 7%.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ink composition of claim 1 wherein glycol and said ketone each range from about 4 to 10%.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
84 words
An ink composition suitable for thermal ink-jet printing comprising, by weight: (a) about 1 to 10% of a sulfonated or carboxylated anionic dye; (b) about 1 to 4% of at least one alcohol selected from the group consisting of ethanol, D-propanol, iso-propanol, tert-butanol, n-pentanol, and benzyl alcohol; (c) from about 1 to less than about 12% of at least one member selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, γ-butyrolactone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-1,2-pentanone, and diethylene glycol mono methyl ether; and (d) the balance water.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
An ink composition suitable for thermal ink-jet printing comprising, by weight: (a) about 1 to 10% of a sulfonated or carboxylated anionic dye; (b) about 1 to 4% of at least one alcohol selected from the group consisting of ethanol, D-propanol, iso-propanol, tert-butanol, n-pentanol, and benzyl alcohol; (c) from about 1 to less than about 12% of at least one member selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, γ-butyrolactone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-1,2-pentanone, and diethylene glycol mono methyl ether; and (d) the balance water.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of printing an ink on plain paper by a thermal ink-jet printer, whereby said ink dries in less than about 13 seconds and has acceptable print quality, said method comprising jetting said ink onto said plain paper, said ink comprising, by weight: (a) about 1 to 10% of at least one water-soluble dye; (b) about 0.05 to 6% of an alcohol corresponding to the formula ROH, wherein R is lower alkyl having from two to about six carbon atoms or benzyl; (c) about 75 to about 98% water; (d) at least about 2% and up to about 15% of at least one member selected from the group consisting of glycols, ketones, and glycol ethers, said glycol, ketone, or glycol ether having a surface tension from about 28.5 dynes/cm to 72 dynes/cm, a viscosity of less than about 35 centipoise, and a boiling point of at least about 150° C., and wherein said glycol has a surface tension to viscosity ratio from at least 1 to about 10.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of printing an ink on plain paper by a thermal ink-jet printer, whereby said ink dries in less than about 13 seconds and has acceptable print quality, said method comprising jetting said ink onto said plain paper, said ink comprising, by weight: (a) about 1 to 10% of at least one water-soluble dye; (b) about 0.05 to 6% of an alcohol corresponding to the formula ROH, wherein R is lower alkyl having from two to about six carbon atoms or benzyl; (c) about 75 to about 98% water; (d) at least about 2% and up to about 15% of at least one member selected from the group consisting of glycols, ketones, and glycol ethers, said glycol, ketone, or glycol ether having a surface tension from about 28.5 dynes/cm to 72 dynes/cm, a viscosity of less than about 35 centipoise, and a boiling point of at least about 150° C., and wherein said glycol has a surface tension to viscosity ratio from at least 1 to about 10.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said dye is a sulfonated or carboxylated anionic dye.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said alcohol is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, tert-butanol, n-pentanol, benzyl alcohol, or a mixture thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said alcohol is present in the range from about 1 to about 4%.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said glycol is diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said ketone is γ-butyrolactone or 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-1,2-pentanone.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said glycol ether is diethylene glycol mono methyl ether.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the concentration of glycol, ketone, and glycol ether combined does not exceed about 12%.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 14 which contains at least 1% of at least one of said glycol, ketone, and glycol ether and at least 94% water.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the glycol ether is present in the range from about 3 to less than about 10%.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the glycol ether is present in the range from about 4 to 7%.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ink composition of claim 14 wherein glycol and said ketone each range from about 4 to 10%.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of printing an ink on plain paper by a thermal ink-jet printer, whereby said ink dries in less than about 13 seconds and has acceptable print quality, said method comprising jetting said ink onto said plain paper, said ink comprising, by weight: (a) about 1 to 10% of a sulfonated or carboxylated anionic dye; (b) about 1 to 4% of at least one alcohol selected from the group consisting of ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, tert-butanol, n-pentanol, and benzyl alcohol; (c) from about 1 to less than about 12% of at least one member selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol, γ-butyrolactone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-1,2-pentanone, and diethylene glycol mono methyl ether; and (d) the balance water.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of printing an ink on plain paper by a thermal ink-jet printer, whereby said ink dries in less than about 13 seconds and has acceptable print quality, said method comprising jetting said ink onto said plain paper, said ink comprising, by weight: (a) about 1 to 10% of a sulfonated or carboxylated anionic dye; (b) about 1 to 4% of at least one alcohol selected from the group consisting of ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, tert-butanol, n-pentanol, and benzyl alcohol; (c) from about 1 to less than about 12% of at least one member selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol, γ-butyrolactone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-1,2-pentanone, and diethylene glycol mono methyl ether; and (d) the balance water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4279653A
Cited
US4156657A
Cited
US4196006A
Cited
US4256493A
Cited
US4500355A
Cited
US4599112A
Cited
US4551736A
Cited
US4661158A
Cited
US4732613A
Cited
US4702742A
Cited
US4838938A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-11-24 | 1996-05-25 | 1996-11-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-11-24 | 2000-05-25 | 2000-11-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-11-24 | 2004-05-25 | 2004-11-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |